Business entities in Oman in 2023

pay fee by instalmentsbusiness setup without travelGuaranteed solutions

Healy Consultants advises our Clients on the optimum corporate structure for doing business in Oman and completes setup procedures on our Client’s behalf. Until December 2019 the most common entity type used by our international Clients was a limited liability company with an Omani, American or GCC national as passive nominee shareholder. However a new Foreign Investment Law came into effect in January 2020. While there is still no clear legal regulatory framework, the new law has eased regulatory requirements for foreign investment in the country. Over the coming months, the One-Person Company may be the best option:

  • Doing business in Oman with a local entity

    • One-Person Company (OPC)

      1. As of January 2020, a limited liability company can be set up with a sole individual or corporate shareholder, a sole director and no miminum paid up share capital requirements;
      2. As of May 2020, there are only 37 business activities closed to foreign ownership. That said, over the coming months, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) is expected to release a new negative investment list;
      3. Best uses: An OPCis expected to become the most commonly-used entity for foreigners wishing to do business in Oman via a simple corporate structure.
    • Oman limited liability company (LLC)

      1. The new foreign investment law has abolished i) the mandatory minimum share capital requirement and ii) the requirement for an Omani, GCC or USA shareholder mentioned below, hat said, due to lack of clear regulatory framework, it is advisable to confirm the same with MOCI on a case-by-case basis;
      2. Depending on the industry sector, business activity and sizeable foreign investments, MOCI may request to follow the ‘old’ Foreign Investment Law on a case-by-case basis. According to the ‘old’ foreign investment law a local LLCis required to have i) two shareholders ii) one director (who can be one of the shareholders) iii) a minimum paid up capital of OMR150,000 (approx. US$390,000) and iv) a local address. Of the two required shareholders, one must be a national of Oman, a GCC state or the USA, and must own 30% of the company’s shares. The appointment of an auditor is also required;
      3. Since the signing of the 2009 Free Trade Agreement, US citizens are treated as local citizens and are therefore allowed to form local companies without a local partner, provided that all of the shareholders are American. For such cases, the minimum share capital is OMR20,000 (approx. US$52,000) and is not required to be paid-up;
      4. Best uses: An Omani LLC is the most commonly-used entity for foreigners that wish to do business in Oman.
    • Oman free zone company

      1. Companies incorporated in Oman Free Zones are permitted to i) be 100% foreign-owned ii) conduct business with local customers. They also have a low or no minimum paid up capital investment;
      2. Free zone companies generally require a minimum of two shareholders and are exempt from i) corporate income tax ii) custom duties and iii) have only 10% of the workforce needs to be Omani
      3. Best uses: Free zones are recommended for manufacturing or trading companies that wish to use Oman as a base to expand operations in the middle eastern region.
    • Joint Stock Company (SAO)

      1. A Joint Stock Company is formed by a minimum of three shareholders;
      2. Joint stock companies that trade their shares publicly are referred to as public joint stock companies (SAOG), and require i) a minimum share capital of OMR2 million (approx. US$5.2M) and ii) an Omani shareholder with 30% of the shares and iii) at least 40% of the shares to be offered for public subscription;
      3. Joint stock companies that do not offer shares to the public are known as private joint stock companies (SAOC), and require i) a minimum share capital of OMR500,000 (approx. US$1.3M) and ii) a 30% Omani shareholding;
      4. Best uses: We recommend registering a Joint Stock Company for projects, involving large investments of funds or raising capital.
    • Holding company

      1. A holding company is an entity that owns at least 51% of the shares in one or more joint stock or limited liability company(ies);
      2. This type of entity requires the appointment of three shareholders and a minimum share capital of OMR2 million (approx. US$5.2M);
      3. For the reasons above, holding companies are not a popular structure used by foreign investors.
      4. Best uses: We recommend registering a Joint Stock Company for projects, involving large investments of funds or raising capital.
    • Limited partnership (LP)

      1. An LP requires at least one general partner and one limited partner to be registered;
      2. The general partner is liable for the partnership’s debts to the full extent of the partnership’s investment, whereas the limited partner is only liable for the partnership’s debt based on their capital contribution;
      3. Only the general partner(s) can participate in the management of the company, and must be an Omani or GCC national;
      4. Best uses: We recommendLPs for Clients looking to establish their business in Oman to provide professional services such as accounting, auditing or fiduciary services.
    • General Partnership (GP)

      1. A General Partnership (GP) is formed by a minimum of two individuals who must be nationals of Oman or a GCC country;
      2. The partners of a GP have unlimited joint liability for the company’s debt. A GP does not have minimum capital requirements;
      3. Best uses: We recommend a GP for GCC nationals looking to supply professional services such as accounting, auditing or fiduciary services.
    • Joint Venture (JV)

      1. A JV is an internal agreement between two or more parties (individual or companies, nationals or foreigners) whereby one party performs business in his/her personal name while the profits/losses of the proceeds are shared;
      2. A JV is not a legal entity and therefore does not require any form of registration with, nor has protection from, the local Authorities;
      3. A JV agreement must remain undisclosed to third parties, or will otherwise be treated as a General Partnership;
      4. Best uses: A foreign company undertaking a specific short-term project in Oman.
  • Doing business in Oman with a foreign entity

    • Oman branch office

      1. Oman’s Commercial Companies Law limits the activities of branches to government contracts or to areas economically necessary for Omani development, except if the parent company is fully owned by a GCC or US national. In both cases, branches are required to have a local agent to sponsor Oman visas and licenses;
      2. The branches are also required to obtain approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), and the license is only valid for the duration of the project. To issue an operations license, the ministry will require a bank guarantee of US$390,000;
      3. Best uses: This type of business entity is only recommended for Clients that have already secured a project contract with the Omani government.
    • Representative office

      1. While the Omani representative office is 100% foreign-owned and controlled, it is not permitted to make direct sales within Oman. Its scope of activities is limited to i) promotion of the parent company’s business and ii) market research;
      2. Representative offices must have i) at least one appointed individual representative ordinarily resident in Oman and ii) are also permitted to sponsor and hire local or foreign employees;
      3. Best uses: Representative office are recommended for Clients that wish to promote and explore the Omani market, without carrying any commercial activity in the country.
    • Commercial agency

      1. Foreign companies looking to do business in Oman that are not keen to register a local company or branch in Oman are permitted to conduct business through local commercial agents;
      2. Unlike the JV, the agreement with the local agency must be registered with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI);
      3. Clients working through a commercial agent are still required to file annual tax returns and pay corporate income tax on their Omani income;
      4. Only Omani nationals registered with the Oman Chamber of Commerce or local entities with 51% local shareholding can be appointed as commercial agents;
      5. For the duration of the agreement, only the commercial agent is permitted to engaged directly in the sale of products and services in the country.
  • Table of comparison between Oman entities

    70% LLC100% LLCFree zone (FZ)JSCLPBranch officeRepresentative office
    Type of business permitted?AllGovernment contracts and MOCI approvalAllAllProfessional servicesGovernment contracts and MOCI approvalResearch and marketing
    Allowed to issue sales invoices?YesYesYesYesYesYesNo
    Allowed to sign contracts?YesYesYesYesYesYesNo
    Corporate tax payable?15%15%0%15%15%15%0%
    Allowed to import goods?YesYesYesYesNoYesNo
    Allowed to export goods?YesYesYesYesNoYesNo
    Wholly foreign owned?NoYesYesNoNoYesYes
    Oman bank account allowed?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    How long to open company bank account?6 weeks6 weeks6 weeks6 weeks6 weeks6 weeks6 weeks
    Can rent an office in Oman?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Tenancy agreement required?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Can conduct business within Oman?YesYesYesYesYesYesNo
    Can apply for immigration visas?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Can hire staff in Oman?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Incorporation period?4 weeks4 weeks6 weeks6 weeks4 weeks6 weeks6 weeks
    Shelf companies allowed?YesYesYesYesNoNoNo
    Minimum shareholders?22132Parent companyParent company
    Minimum directors or representatives allowed?1112211
    Min capital?US$390,000US$1US$1US$1.3 milNoneNoneNone
    Bearer shares?NoNoNoNoNoNoNo
    Public Relations Officer (PRO)?YesYesYesYesYesYesNo
    Public registrar of companies?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Annual accounting?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Corporate directors allowed?YesYesYesYesNoYesYes
    Oman resident company secretary required?YesYesYesYesNoYesYes
    Can buy Oman property?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Need to travel?NoNoNoNoNoNoNo
    Annual Oman tax return?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Annual audited financial statements?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Access to Oman double tax treaties?YesYesNoYesNoNoNo
    Annual license renewal?YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
    Oman national director or shareholder required?YesNoNoYesYesNoNo
    Allowed own shares in other Oman companies?YesYesYesYesYesNoNo
    Draft invoiceView invoice PDFView invoice PDFView invoice PDFView invoice PDFView invoice PDFView invoice PDFView invoice PDF

Contact us

For additional information on our company setup services in Oman, please contact our in-house country expert, Mr. Petar Chakarov, directly:
client relationship officer - Petar
  • Mr. Petar Chakarov
  • Client Engagements Manager
  • Contact me!